"What do you mean you can't come with us?" Robert asked not masking his irritation. "You of all people should be there when we take a tour of the estate."
"Papa, Matthew and I need to go see someone tomorrow," Mary tried to explain without getting into details.
"And that is more important than spending time with your grandmother?" he argued.
"Robert, we really would like to be with you but time is of the essence," Matthew said.
"Is it about your health?" Cora asked with concern.
"No, it's not," Matthew quickly assured her. "But we would like to settle a matter as quickly as possible."
Robert was silently steaming and wished both his mother and Isobel were there to back him up. He knew Isobel would see this as a good occasion for Matthew to shine in Martha's eyes and insist he drop everything for it.
"Leave them be Robert," Martha interjected on their behalf. "They're young and prefer to be on their own. I expect that you as head of this family will be able to show me around yourself."
"Tom can help," Matthew volunteered his brother-in-law in an attempt to help Robert.
"I would love to join you," Tom agreed and quickly exchanged looks with Matthew. He felt it was the least he could do to help Matthew on his important errand.
"Then it's settled then," Martha said happily. "Not to worry, I'm quite aware of Matthew's initiative so he will get credit." She gave Robert a quick nod to put him at ease.
Robert looked around the table and finally relented because he was outnumbered.
...
Matthew found Mary in their sitting room after he had finished his call to Sir Anthony. He saw that she was reading an American paper when he sat beside her.
"Looking for something to discuss with your grandmother or Edmund?" he teased.
"Neither," she replied before setting the paper down. "And I blame you for getting me interested in reading it to begin with."
"Guilty as charged but I'm glad," he said with a grin. "Otherwise, there's no one else to discuss what I read with." He was pleased that they were expanding each other's horizons.
"So what did Sir Anthony say?" she asked.
"He's expecting us after breakfast tomorrow to discuss the matter. Do you think we should at least tell Edith?"
"I'd rather not," she said cautiously. "I don't know how she'd react to learning he's home. And I don't want anything to delay the matter."
"She will find out soon enough," he told her. "I wouldn't want her to be upset with us."
"I know her well and she won't be," she assured him. "Actually I think she'll understand why we kept it from her. You do remember how long it took her to recover the last time."
Matthew certainly did and conceded to her choice. "Well, I just want to make sure no other family member will be upset with me about this affair since Robert clearly is."
"If papa is angry with you, then he's angry with me as well," she tried to ease his mind. "Remember we're in this together."
"We certainly are," he said leaning in to give her a kiss.
The pair was too preoccupied to notice Edmund arrive. He cleared his throat to interrupt them.
"Edmund," Mary greeted calmly. "What can we do for you?" She caught Matthew's frown as he straightened up.
"Edith invited me to go to the village and I wondered if you two would like to come with us."
"We can't join you," Mary said before Matthew could reply. "We need to prepare for our engagement tomorrow."
"I see," Edmund said with a knowing look. "Well I suppose it's just me and Edith then. Carry on with whatever preparation you were doing."
"What did he mean by that," Matthew asked before being silenced by Mary with a kiss. But before long, they both heard footsteps again and parted to avoid being seen kissing again.
"Mary," Edith greeted her when she entered the sitting room. "Will you come with me and Edmund to the village?"
"What for?" Mary asked, not hiding her irritation. "You are quite capable of going to London on your own without a chaperone so the village shouldn't be a problem."
"What about you Matthew?" Edith asked, trying to appeal to his brotherly concern.
"Edith, you should have asked us first," Mary said. "We would have happily gone with you but now is not a good time."
"But it was granny's idea," Edith trying to use her as an excuse for the impromptu trip.
"Why don't you ask Rose to go with you?" Matthew suggested, trying to dispel the tension between the sisters.
"Rose is at granny's for tea," Edith informed them. "Oh never mind." She walked out disappointed.
"Maybe we should go with her," Matthew suggested. "I could use a little time outdoors."
"You've been barely home so I think you don't need more time outdoors," she reminded him. "Anyway, I suspect Edith just wants us with her to prevent Edmund from courting her."
"So you think Edmund is going to do that?" he asked. "He just didn't strike me as being interested in being more than friends with her."
"What makes you say that?" she wondered and saw him shrug in response. "Anyway, if you're right then I suppose their feelings are mutual."
"What do you mean?" he wondered in turn. "Is there something I need to know?"
Mary decided that was as good a time as any to tell him about Edith and Gregson. "I think Edith is in love with Gregson and I support their relationship." She studied Matthew's reaction to what she just said.
Matthew took a deep breath before speaking again. "Mary, I don't think that's such a good idea. There's something you should know about him."
"I already know," she told him, sparing him from having to retell everything. "Edith told me everything."
"And you still support it?" he asked in disbelief. "What about the scandal their relationship will stir?"
"This is one of the things that I want you to do as I say and not question me," she said, trying to end the discussion.
"Are you sure?" he asked, furrowing his brows. "There is no taking it back if you encourage her on this."
"I've already told her," she revealed. "I think the world is changing and it might not turn into a scandal at all. And I truly believe that this would make her happy."
"Robert is going to blame me for your sudden liberal attitude towards this," he said, shaking his head.
"Papa will just have to accept it," she said.
"Accept what?" Robert asked when he entered the room.
Matthew and Mary exchanged looks and both wondered how much he heard.
"What brings you here papa?" she asked, trying to gauge his mood.
"I came hoping to convince you two to come with us tomorrow," he said. "Is there really no chance to postpone your engagement?"
"Papa, if there was we would," she replied. "Besides, wouldn't you want to show granny that you are adapting to the changing world by allowing the estate to change?"
"But it was all Matthew's idea," he reasoned. "I wouldn't know all the details to tell your grandmother."
"That's why Tom will be there," Matthew explained. "He can help you with the details."
"You'll be fine papa," she assured him and stood up to kiss him on the cheek.
Robert turned from her to Matthew. "I hope so because I will hold you two responsible if she is cross with me."
"She won't be," Matthew said with confidence. "She will be pleased with what we've done."
Mary eyed Matthew and wondered why he was so sure. She wanted to ask him but was distracted when Robert gave her a kiss on the cheek before heading out. She walked towards the door and closed it so they finally could have some privacy.
"I should have done that when I first came in," he said with a chuckle. "It would have spared us from all the interruptions." He stood up and met her half-way up the room.
"You were fairly confident granny will be pleased," she noted. "What do you know that I don't?"
"Nothing," he said, pulling her into his arms. "Now where were we?" He was eager to continue what they had started.
"Matthew, maybe we should wait," she said, placing a hand on his chest. "Mama, granny and Tom haven't passed by yet."
Sure enough they heard a knock and Cora announcing herself.
"Look who's here," Cora said when Mary opened the door to let her in. "Isn't he just adorable in this cowboy outfit?"
"Have you shown granny?" Mary asked, taking her son into her arms. "She will be very glad to see him."
"I was hoping you two will come with us for a walk out in the gardens," Cora suggested.
"Mary thinks I should stay indoors for a while," Matthew said, trying to talk his way out of it and hoped Mary would do the same.
"Certainly mama," Mary said. She saw Matthew look bewildered and disappointed all at once.
"Wonderful, I'll tell mama," Cora said and walked away.
"I'll see you later," Mary said and kissed him before walking away as well.
"You'll need to make this up to me later," he teased. He was rewarded with a sweet smile from her before she disappeared into the hallway.
...
Matthew entered the library of Locksley House to meet with Sir Anthony. He was eager to wrap things up quickly so he could start planning their next steps.
"Matthew," Anthony greeted him warmly. "It's so nice to see you again."
"I'm glad to see you back in England as well," Matthew replied. "Although I am sorry that you are selling this place."
"It's become necessary," he said before noticing Mary follow Matthew into the room. "Lady Mary, this is a surprise."
"Hello Sir Anthony," Mary greeted amicably.
Anthony fidgeted for a moment trying to find something to say. "I heard you have a son; congratulations,"
"Thank you," she said before taking a seat next to Matthew.
"And how is everyone?" Anthony continued to ask, trying to make small talk.
"We're all fine," Matthew replied. "It's getting a little lively at the house with the growing family."
"That must be wonderful," Anthony said. "And everyone is happy I take it."
"Edith is doing well and she has a new beau," Mary said pointedly. She saw Matthew shift uneasily next to her.
"I'm glad to hear that," Anthony said with a forced smile. "She deserves to be happy."
"If you don't mind Sir Anthony, I'd like to discuss business," Matthew reminded him. "I hope we can come to an acceptable agreement for the sale of this estate."
Anthony nodded and the two men began talking about the details.
Mary was surprised at how keen in business Matthew really was as she listened to them discuss the land, the tenants and other matters related to the estate. She could see he was in his element and glad to be there to witness it first-hand. She realized she worried for nothing because although he was adamant about being fair, he was also protecting their interests. After they talked at length, they finally agreed and shook hands.
"I'm glad this place is going to you," Anthony noted. "I've heard so much about your work and know it's in good hands."
"You give me too much credit," Matthew said humbly. "Mary and Tom deserve equal credit for what we've accomplished at Downton."
"Wonderful," Anthony acknowledged with a smile.
"Where will you be going?" Matthew ventured to ask.
"I think I shall live the rest of my life in Canada," Anthony said. "I suspect we won't see each other again so good luck."
"Good luck to you, too," Matthew wished back.
...
"You didn't have to give me credit for what has happened here you know," Mary said when they arrived home. "I didn't do anything; it was all you and Tom really."
Matthew looked at her with an amused look. "I disagree, you have been instrumental in continuing the work while I was away and Tom agrees with me. And now, you've made me consider expanding the estate."
Mary still hesitated before accepting the credit from him. "Be careful, I might want more in the future." She heard him chuckle beside her.
"I know you will always raise the bar," he teased. "I just hope I don't disappoint you."
"I don't give you anything you can't handle," she pointed out. "And if you do disappoint, I'll just have to find ways to help you improve."
"You sound like my mother," he continued to joke. "Did she pass on the motherhood book to you?"
"I think it's instinct," she joked back and softly laughed with him.
"So, how are we going to tell Robert about this?" he finally asked, now that the deed was done. "They'll be home soon I think." He turned to look at the garage to confirm that the family was still out on their tour.
"Since you took care of business, I'll take on telling papa and mama," she offered. "I just haven't decided how yet." She walked purposefully back into the house and tried to think of a good approach as she went.
...
"You did what?" Robert asked in a raised voice. He looked from Mary to Matthew to Tom before settling back on Mary.
"Robert, keep your voice down," Cora suggested. "Mama might hear you."
"They just bought a property without consulting me," he reminded her. "And of all people, it's from Anthony."
"Papa, would you have preferred the property go to some stranger?" Mary defended their decision. "Besides, we didn't tell you so you won't be bothered needlessly."
"How did you manage to afford it?" Robert asked Matthew.
"It is a substantial investment but it will work," Matthew assured him. He cautiously looked at Cora who seemed to know how he managed to do so.
"And you, what do you say about the additional work?" Robert asked Tom.
"It's not more than I already do," Tom assured him. "I'm up for it."
Robert could see that the trio were united on this. "Is there anything else I should know?" When he got no response, he walked away without another word.
"Although I understand why you did it," Cora began to advise them. "I think you should work on how you tell him about things like this."
"We will try to be better at it," Matthew answered on behalf of the three of them.
...
Mary walked towards her father out in the garden. She hoped to make him see things from their point of view and patch things up with him.
"Are you less angry with us now that you've had some time to think about it?" she entreated.
"Did Matthew send you?" he asked clearly still a little upset. "I just feel that all he ever wants is to change things. When does it end?"
"But papa, mama just told us how granny praised you for modernizing to sustain tradition," she explained. "This will only reinforce that."
"Of course you'll say that," he noted. "I do miss having you on my side if only to keep Matthew from completely changing Downton."
"If you must blame someone, then blame me," she informed him. "It was after all my idea."
"Your idea?" he asked in surprise. "Why would you not talk to me about it first then?"
"Well, as Matthew said, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission," she replied. "If I had come to you, I think you would have forbidden us from going ahead and that would be the end of that."
Robert considered it for a moment. "You should have given me a chance; I might just surprise you. Your grandmother said so herself, I'm adapting to change."
"Then you'll be the first to know if we plan something about the estate again in the future," she promised. "Now will you come and have tea with us?"
"I'll be in a little later," he said. "You can tell Matthew that he's forgiven."
"Thank you papa that will mean a lot to him."
...
Mary saw Tom and Edith getting ready to go somewhere. Her curiosity got the better of her so she went to ask them where they were going.
"Where are you two off to?" she asked when she got near them. She saw them turn to face her before sharing a nervous look with each other.
"We are making a quick trip to the village," Tom said casually.
"We have to tell her," Edith told Tom. "She'll find out soon enough."
"Tell me what?" Mary prompted when they hesitated.
"Edith thinks she saw Blackwell in the village yesterday," Tom began. "And we just heard that the constable had arrested a man fitting his description. We were going to confirm if it was him or not."
"Why didn't you tell me about this yesterday?" Mary asked, a bit upset by the news.
"I wasn't sure it was him and I didn't want to upset you needlessly," Edith defended her decision. "Tom and I thought we could manage it on our own."
Mary realized she was reacting to being kept in the dark just as Robert did moments ago. She knew they had good intentions so she decided to cut them some slack. "When was he arrested?"
"Just recently," Tom informed her. "Apparently he was stealing food and the shopkeeper caught him."
"Can I come with you to make sure it's him?" Mary asked.
"Actually, I think it would be better if you didn't," Tom disagreed. "He might say something that would upset you and I don't want to give him that satisfaction." He was clearly showing his protective side.
"But you're taking Edith with you," Mary pointed out.
"He doesn't bother me at all," Edith reminded her. "And if you came with us, wouldn't Matthew want to come as well?"
"Very well," Mary gave in. She watched the two head out and hoped that it was Blackwell so she could stop worrying about what he might do to them.